High Creatinine Level?

[bettyb0324]

My husband is a diabetic and takes lipitor, metformin & glybride and due to a hospital stay we were informed that he now has high pressure and he is in the beginning of kidney failure because his creatinine level was 5.2. Before we left the hospital the level came down to 4.6 and his blood pressure was down to 145/80. Now taking blood pressure medicine also but was taken off the metformin.  We were told that he will be needing dialysis shortly and he will be a good candidate for a kidney transplant, so we are contact hospitals in philadelphia to be put on a transplant list. We were also informed by the new kidney doctor that his family doctor knew his creatinine level was 2.6 a year and a half ago and we were not informed. He feels that he should have taken him off the metformin as soon as his creatinine level reached that point and sent to a kidney doctor and because he didn't do that my husband has now suffered permanent kidney damage. What are your thoughts on this and do you think that his creatinine level will come down any more? Thank you!


This discussion is related to High Creatinine Levels & Kidney Transplant.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

Metformin per se does not cause kidney damage .However since this drug is excreted through the kidneys ,then this should be avoided in persons with known kidney problems as this may decrease excretion of the drug and increase its blood levels.As in your husband's case a creatinine of 2.6 suggests an underlying kidney problem most likely secondary to the diabetes.At that point,his medications could have been modified.

What is your husband's GFR? Would you know?

Elevated creatinine levels for greater than 3 months may suggest chronic renal failure.At this point,his creatinine and GFR need to be evaluated closely.In the presence of permanent kidney damage,the creatinine levels may decrease but probably will not revert back to previously normal levels.It is best to discuss these with your physician.